‘SINTEF Building and Infrastructure’ is the third largest building research institute in Europe. Through contract research, we solve challenges linked to the entire construction process. The institute offers specialist expertise in technical fields ranging from architecture and building physics to the management, operation and the maintenance of buildings, water supply, and other forms of infrastructure. An important aim for us is to contribute to sustainable development in this sector. Close dialogue with the industry gives us a deep understanding of our clients’ needs.
SINTEF Building and Infrastructure is the leading disseminator of research-based knowledge in Norway. By means of our knowledge systems, publishing house and the SINTEF Certification system, we have established a unique knowledge dissemination platform (bks.byggforsk.no) which serves the greater part of the construction sector, with 5000 subscribers. Another key service we provide is laboratory facilities at both our offices, in Oslo and Trondheim. The Trondheim office is closely associated with the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU).

Employees: 265 (of which approx 48 are doctorates)Turnover: € 34 mill.Sources of finance: 39.6% from industry & commerce, 19% from Norwegian Research Council, 13.6% from international contracts, 9.9% from public sector

SINTEF Building and Infrastructure is an independent foundation. It was established in 2006 following a merger between the SINTEF Foundation and the Norwegian Building Research Institute, both organisations over 50 years old at the time. The SINTEF Group as a whole has over 2100 employees, and is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia. SINTEF Building and Infrastructure has specialists on indoor climate issues (thermal, ventilation, acoustics, building services) and building physics (thermal, moisture, airtightness, energy simulation). Research is conducted in the laboratory, in the field, and more theoretical work. A major strength of SINTEF is its in-house publisher and the web-based subscription service for guides (bks.byggforsk.no).

SINTEF has a large portfolio of national projects related to ventilation and indoor air quality, the largest of which is the new research centre Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB), www.zeb.no with a budget of €1.8 mill. per year over 8 years (2009-2016).

Previous and present EC co-funded projects:

FP5: RESHYVENT (Residential hybrid ventilation)

FP6: BRITA-in-Pubs (Bringing Retrofit Innovation to Application in Public Bldgs)

The main reason for SINTEF’s membership is INIVE’s role as operating agent for AIVC, which SINTEF is actively involved with. Membership of INIVE gives additional rights related to free national dissemination of AIVC publications. Secondly, the INIVE is a very useful and active network whose members all have a common interest in developing and collaborative energy-related EU projects.